Connector and method

ABSTRACT

A connector utilizing a screw for making a positive electrical connection to a plastic coated conductive shield in a communication cable. The connector includes a U-shaped spring clip including a first jaw comprising a longitudinally extending channel with a depth less than the major diameter of the screw thread. The clip is pressed over the end of a jacketed conductive shield to position the conductive shield over the open side of the channel. The screw is inserted into the channel through an opening in an end wall of the connector and is rotated to advance along the channel and engage the shield. The shield is pressed against the exposed side of the screw by a second opposed jaw, so that movement of the threads relative to the shield as the screw rotates wipes away its plastic coating and affords electrical engagement between the conductive shield and the screw.

[451 Feb. 4, 1975 CONNECTOR AND METHOD [75] Inventor: Ralph F. Wickenberg, Roseville,

Minn.

[73] Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul,

Minn.

[22] Filed: Apr. 9, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 349,068

[52] US. Cl. 339/95 R, 339/270 R [51] Int. Cl H01r 11/10 [58] Field of Search 339/95, 263, 270, 266

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,083,606 6/1937 Johansson 339/266 R 3,019,409 1/1962 Sarafinas 339/266 R 3,122,604 2/1964 Cook et a1. 339/95 D 3,707,698 12/1972 Robinson et a1. 339/95 R 3,732,354 5/1973 Thompson et al. 339/95 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,363,909 5/1964 France 339/266 R Primary Examiner-Joseph H. McGlynn Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Alexander, Sell, Steldt & DeLaHunt [57] ABSTRACT A connector utilizing a screw for making a positive electrical connection to a plastic coated conductive shield in a communication cable. The connector includes a U-shaped spring clip including a first jaw comprising a longitudinally extending channel with a depth less than the major diameter of the screw thread. The clip is pressed over the end of a jacketed conductive shield to position the conductive shield over the open side of the channel. The screw is inserted into the channel through an opening in an end wall of the connector and is rotated to advance along the channel and engage the shield. The shield is pressed against the exposed side of the screw by a second opposed jaw, so that movement of the threads relative to the shield as the screw rotates wipes away its plastic coating and affords electrical engagement between the conductive shield and the screw.

14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures CONNECTOR AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to electrical connectors for making an electrical connection between a conductor and the conductive shield on a communication cable.

A communication cable commonly comprises a number of individually insulated wires which may or may not be bound together with an electrically insulating inner sheath, a sleeve-like electrically conductive shield around the wires and inner sheath (if present), and an electrically insulating outer jacket over the shield. When splicing or terminating the wires, an electrical connection is made between a conductor and the conductive shield to carry an electrical path across the splice or connect the shield to a source of ground potential to afford grounding of currents from extraneous electrical fields.

Making a reliable electrical connection to the shield is complicated by the presence on the shield of a thin electrically insulating plastic coating such as a polyolefin. The prior art suggests many connectors which attempt to make a connection with the plastic coated shield by clamping a plate in intimate contact therewith (See US. Pat. Nos. 3,499,972 and 3,676,836), and/or by piercing the shield with projections on the connector to make contact with uncoated edges of the metal shield. (See US. Pat. Nos. 3,594,691 and 3,701,839). US. Patent No. 3,778,749 discloses a connector having a barbed jaw which is clamped in engagement with and pierces the coated shield, andprovides a connector capable of handling high current flows. It has been found, however, that these prior art connectors do not always maintain their initial connection efficiency during temperature cycling. Presumably their connection efficiency decreases because the relative movement of the connector and shield allows the insulative plastic coating to work in and around the points of connection which, along with any corrosion which may develop, degrades the connection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A connector according to the present invention utilizes the crest of the thread on a screw for making a positive efficient and quickly applied connection to a plastic coated conductive shield. The crest of the thread along one side of the screw is pressed and rotated against the shield during attachment of the connector. The screw thread is sufficiently rough to wipe or file away the plastic coating and to engage the shield so that an efficient connection will be established. Connections made in this manner have been found to show little loss of efficiency over prolonged temperature cycling, because the plastic coating has been effectively removed between the screw threads and the shield.

The connector includes a novel resilient conductive clip adapted for engagement around the end of a conductive shield and outer jacket. The novel clip (1) affords ease of insertion of the screw beneath the conductive shield, (2) guides the screw during engagement with the shield, (3) presses the shield into engagement with the screw, (4) protects the adjacent inner shield or conductors from the screw threads, and (5) affords a strong mechanical engagement between the cable and the connector.

LII

The clip includes first and second opposed longitudinally extending jaws interconnected to form a generally U-shaped structure by an end wall having an opening adapted to receive the threaded end of a screw for movement between the jaws. The first jaw comprises a longitudinally extending channel with a depth less than the major diameter of the screw thread positioned with its open side adjacent the second jaw and its end ad jacent the end wall aligned with the opening. To apply the connector, the clip is pressed over the end of a shield and outer jacket with the second jaw contacting the jacket and the shield over the open side of the channel, the side walls of the channel being tapered in height from the end wall toward the opposite end of the first jaw to facilitate its insertion between the conductive shield and conductors or inner shield. The screw is then inserted through the opening and into the channel beneath the conductive shield and is rotated. The portion of the screw thread projecting from the channel engages the adjacent surface of the conductive shield which is pressed against the screw by the second jaw, and the screw is guided along the channel as it advances, the channel being sufficiently long to protect the conductors or inner shield from potentially damaging contact by the screw threads.

The second jaw may have a plurality of barbs curved toward the channel to engage the outer jacket and in sure a strong mechanical engagement between the clip and the cable, and may have a projecting threaded stud to facilitate attachment of one or more conductors.

Conventional tin plated steel screws which have threads with a generally pointed crest (such as sheet metal screws) have been found suitable for making good electrical connections with conductive shields, with tin plated brass screws being preferred due to their greater current carrying capacity. No. 8 through 1% inch screws 1 to 2 inch long are deemed suitable with No. 10 screws at least 1% inch long being preferred.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be further described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein like numbers refer to like parts in the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa connector according to the present invention shown attached over the end of a jacketed conductive shield for a fragment of a communication cable;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken approximately along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the connector of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken approximately along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing there is illustrated a connector according to the present invention generally designated by the numeral 10. In FIGS. 1 and 2 the connector 10 is shown engaged over the end of a conductive shield 12 and outer jacket 14 of a communication cable 16 to afford electrical contact between the conductive shield 12 and a conductor 18. The conductor 18 may be attached to a source of ground potential or may be a portion of an electrical path around a 3 splice between separate lengths of communication cable.

The communication cable 16 comprises a plurality of individually insulated wires 20 which may, as illustrated, be surrounded by an electrically insulating inner sheath 22. The conductive shield 12 typically is a sleeve-like member of corrugated metal such as aluminum or copper positioned around the inner sheath 22 and wires, and the electrically insulating tubular outer jacket 14 (typically 'of polyethylene) is positioned around the conductive shield 12.

As is best seen in FIG. 2, the connector includes a conventional pointed sheet metal screw 24 having a helical thread 26 and a slotted'head 28 which provides efficient electrical contact with the conductive shield 12. The connector 10 also includes a spring clip 30 adapted for engagement over the edge of the conductive shield 12 and outer jacket 14 (FIGS. 1 and 2) to afford engagement of the crest of the thread 26 on one side of the screw 24 with the conductive shield 12.

The clip 30 is of a resilient conductive material and includes first and second longitudinally extending opposed jaws 32 and 34 interconnected by an end wall 36 to form-a generally U-shaped structure. The end wall 36 has a generally central opening 38 sized to receive the screw 24 and afford threaded engagement between the screw 24 and the end wall 36, thereby affording a good conductive path between the screw 24 and the clip 30.

The first jaw 32 has a longitudinally extending channel 39 with a depth less than the major diameter of the screw thread 26 positioned with its open side adjacent the second jaw 34 and its end adjacent the end wall 36 aligned with the opening 38. The walls of the channel include a planar central wall 40, and side walls 42 projecting from the central wall 40 toward the second jaw 34 to provide, in cross section, a generally U-shaped channel. The side walls 42 at their ends adjacent the end wall 36 extend about to the center of the opening 38 so that the tip of the screw 24 may easily be inserted between the central wall 40 of the jaw 32 and a conductive shield 12 between the jaws 32 and 34. The side walls 42 are tapered from the end adjacent the end wall 36 toward the opposite end of the first jaw 32, making the first jaw 32 wedge-shaped to facilitate its insertion between a conductive shield and an inner shield or conductors, thereby forming an opening for the insertion of the screw 24. The channel 39 of the first jaw 32 provides means for guiding the screw 24 as it is engaged with the conductive shield 12, and at least the central wall 40 is about the same length as the threaded portion of the screw 24 to protect the conductors 18 or inner sheath 22 from the threads 26 thereof.

The second jaw 34 is positioned generally parallel I with the adjacent edges of the side Walls 42 and is symmetrically tapered from the end wall 36. The second jaw 34 is slightly curved about a longitudinal axis to provide a cylindrically concave inner surface adapted for engagement with the exterior surface of the outer jacket 14. The second jaw 34 has a plurality of spaced slits formed along each edge, each extending inwardly from an edge away from the end wall 36 to form a triangular barb 46. Each of the barbs 46 is curved to protrude from the second jaw 34 with its point directed generally toward the end wall 36 and first jaw 32. The barbs 46 are adapted to engage the outer jacket 14 when the clip 30 is positioned over the edge of a con- 4 ductive shield 12 and outer jacket 14, and help retain the connector 10 in mechanical engagement therewith. If further mechanical engagement is desired between the clip 30 and a cable, triangular barbs may be similarly formed along the edges of the side walls 42 adjacent the second jaw 34 (not shown) and curved toward the second jaw 34 to engage the conductive shield 12.

A threaded stud 48 is attached to the second jaw 34 and projects normally thereto away from the first jaw 32. The stud 48 and a nut 50 provide a convenient means of attaching one or more conductors to the connector 10. While alternatively, conductors could be attached under the head 28 of the screw 24, the stud 48 positions conductors in a more convenient position, and facilitates adding or changing conductors without removing the screw 24.

Although this invention is subject to considerable variation without departure from the spirit thereof, it is believed that the following specific example will facilitate understanding: The screw is a tin plated slotted pan head No. 10 X 1% inch long sheet metal screw of hardened brass. The spring clip is of 0.048 inch thick half hard copper zinc alloy CDA No. 230, 240, or 260 and is tin plated. The jaws are about 1% inch long with a width at the end wall of one-half inch. The channel of the first jaw is about 0.20 inch wide and the side walls forming the channel taper from a maximum height adjacent the end wall of 0.15 inch, which is slightly above the center line of the opening. The adjacent edges of the side walls are-generally parallel to and spaced about 0.05 inch from the second jaw, and 0.1 inch separation of the jaws at their ends requires about 5 to 6 pounds of force. A 10-32 stud projects from the second jaw. and the slits defining the barbs are 0.15 inch long and disposed at an angle of 30 degrees with the edges of the second jaw.

In normal operation, a craftsman places the end of the first jaw 32 between the conductive shield 12 and the inner sheath 22 or conductors 18 of the cable 16 with the secondjaw 34 on the outer surface of the outer jacket 14. The jaws 32 and 34 are moved axially along the cable 16 until the edge of the jacketed conductive shield 12 contacts the end wall 26. This may be done manually or with the aid of a hammer. The craftsman then inserts the end of the screw 24 through the opening 38 and into the channel 39 with one side of the screw 24 contacting the conductive shield 12 and rotates the screw 24 as with a screwdriver. As it rotates, the thread 26 on the screw 24 engages the end wall 36 about the opening 38 to positively advance the screw 24 between the jaws 32 and 34, and the adjacent portions of the thread 26 engage and wipe across the inner surface of the conductive shield 12 in axially spaced areas. The movement of the threads along these areas wipes or files the plastic coating from the conductive shield 12 so that when the screw head 28 abuts the end wall 36, an efficient electrical contact is completed between the screw threads 26 and shield 12.

The craftsman may then attach the required conductors 18 to the stud 48 via the nut 50.

' We claim:

1. A connector for making an electrical connection to an end of a tubular electrically conductive plastic coated shield with an electrically insulating outer jacket on a communication cable, said connector comprising:

an electrically conductive screw having a head and a generally pointed helically threaded end; and

a generally U-shaped resilient clip having first and second opposed jaws projecting from an interconnecting end wall, said jaws terminating with spaced ends adapted to receive the conductive shield and jacket therebetween' with the first jaw adjacent the inner surface of said shield and said end wall adjacent the end of said conductive shield. said end wall having an opening receiving the threaded end of said screw to project from said end wall between the jaws, said clip including means for guiding the screw along the first jaw and said jaws being spaced to resiliently press said screw against said conductive shield when said clip is engaged over said jacketed shield to engage the adjacent edges .of the threads with the conductive shield, thereby wiping away the plastic coating on the shield as the screw is rotated between the jaws to provide an electrical connection between the screw and the conductive shield, and resiliently retaining said electrical connection after the screw is completely engaged with its head at the end wall.

2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said clip is conductive, and includes a threaded stud projecting from the second jaw.

3. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said second jaw has a plurality of spaced slits formed along each edge and extending inwardly from said edges away from the end wall to form triangular barbs, with each of the barbs being curved to protrude from the second jaw with the point thereof directed generally toward said first jaw and said end wall.

4. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said first jaw comprises a longitudinally extending channel with a depth less than the major diameter of said screw thread, said channel being positioned with its open side adjacent the second jaw and its end adjacent the end wall aligned with the opening to provide said means for guiding the screw along the first jaw.

S. A connector according to claim 4, wherein said channel has a central wall and two side walls attached to and projecting from the central wall toward said second jaw, the height of the side walls from the central wall being tapered from the ends of the side walls adjacent the end wall toward the opposite end of the first 6. A connector according to claim 5, wherein the ends of said side walls adjacent the end wall extend from said central wall about to the center of said opening.

7. A generally U-shaped resilient clip adapted for engagement around an end of a tubular electrically conductive plastic coated shield with an electrically insulating outer jacket on a communication cable, and for receiving a screw having a head and a threaded end to make an electrical connection between the screw and the conductive shield, said clip having first and second longitudinal opposed jaws projecting from an interconnecting end wall having an opening therethrough adapted to receive the screw; the first jaw comprising a central wall and two side walls attached to and projecting from the central wall toward said second jaw, the height ofthe side walls from the central wall being tapered from their ends adjacent the end wall toward the opposite end of the first jaw to form a wedge adapted to be pressed under the end of a conductive shield, and said central and side walls forming a longitudinally extending channel with a depth less than the major diameter of the screw thread positioned with its open side adjacent the second jaw and its end adjacent the end wall aligned with the opening to guide a said screw inserted through the opening along the first jaw, and the jaws being-spaced to resiliently press a said screw inserted through the opening into the channel against a said conductive shield over which the clip is engaged thereby causing the edges of the threads adjacent the conductive shield to wipe away the plastic coating and engage the shield to make electrical contact therewith as the screw is rotated between the jaws, and causing the electrical contact to be resiliently maintained after the screw is completely engaged with its head at the end wall.

8. A clip according to claim 7, wherein the ends of said side walls adjacent the end wall extend from said central wall about to the center of said opening.

9. A clip according to claim 7, wherein said clip is conductive and includes a threaded stud projecting from the second jaw.

10. A clip according to claim 7, wherein said second jaw has a plurality of spaced slits formed along each edge and extending inwardly from said edges away from the end wall to form triangular barbs, with each of the barbs being curved to protrude from the second jaw with the point thereof directed generally toward said first jaw and said end wall.

11. A method for making an electrical connection to an end of a tubular electrically conductive plastic coated shield with an electrically insulating outer jacket on a communication cable, including the steps of:

providing a screw with a threaded end, and a generally U-shaped resilient clip having first and second opposed jaws projecting from an interconnecting end wall, said end wall having an opening therethrough adapted to receive the screw, the first jaw comprising means for guiding the threaded end of the screw along the firstjaw upon insertion thereof through the opening and between the jaws;

pressing the clip over the end of said shield and said jacket with the first jaw contacting the shield and the second jaw contacting the jacket;

inserting the threaded end of the screw through the opening and between the conductive shield and first jaw; and

rotating the screw to engage the threads along one side thereof with the conductive shield whereby the moving threads wipe the plastic coating from the conductive shield and engage the shield to provide an electric contact between the screw and the conductive shield, which electrical contact is thereafter maintained by resilient pressure from the jaws.

12. A method for making an electrical connection to the end of a jacketed electrically conductive plastic coated shield on a communication cable including the steps of:

providing an electrically conductive screw-like member having a generally pointed end having axially spaced ridges around its periphery;

inserting the ridged end of the screw-like member under the end of the conductive shield;

pressing the ridged end of the screw-like member radially against the conductive shield;

rotating the screw-like member during said pressing step to cause the adjacent side of the moving ridges to wipe away the plastic coating from the conductive shield and engage the shield to provide electrical contact between the screw-like member and the conductive shield; and

resiliently biasing the engaged screw-like member against the shield to maintain the electrical contact therebetween.

13. A connector for making an electrical connection to an end of a tubular electrically conductive plastic coated shield with an electrically insulating outer jacket on a communication cable, said connector comprising:

an electrically conductive screw having a head and a generally pointed helically threaded end; and

a clip comprising first and second opposed jaws and means joining said jaws at one end and defining an interconnecting end wall, said jaws terminating with spaced ends adapted to receive the conductive shield and jacket therebetween with the first jaw adjacent the inner surface of said shield and said end wall adjacent the end of said conductive shield, said end wall having an opening receiving the threaded end of said screw to project from said end wall between the jaws, said clip including means for guiding the screw along the first jaw, and said means joining said jaws providing means for sup-' porting said jaws adapted to resiliently press said screw against said shield when said clip is engaged over said jacketed shield to engage the adjacent edges of the threads with the conductive shield, thereby wiping away the plastic coating on the shield as the screw is rotated between the jaws to provide an electrical connection between the screw and the conductive shield, and resiliently retaining said electrical connection after the screw is completely engaged with its head at the endvwall.

coated shield with an electrically insulating outer jacket on a communication cable, said connector comprising:

an electrically conductive screw-like member having a head and a generally pointed end having axially spaced ridges around its periphery; and

a clip comprising first and second opposed jaws and means joining said jaws at one end and defining an interconnecting end wall, said jaws terminating with spaced ends adapted to receive the conductive shield and jacket therebetween with the first jaw adjacent the inner surface of said shield and said end wall adjacent the end of said conductive shield, said end wall having an opening receiving the pointed end of said screw-like member to project from said end wall between the jaws, said clip including means for guiding the screw-like member along the first jaw, and said means joining said jaws providing means for supporting said jaws adapted to resiliently press said screw-like member against said shield when said clip is engaged over said jacketed shield to engage the adjacent edges of said ridges with the conductive shield, thereby wiping away the plastic coating on the shield as the screwlike member is rotated between the jaws to provide an electrical connection between the screw-like member and the conductiveshield, and resiliently retaining said electrical connection after the screwlike member is completely engaged with its head at the end wall. 

1. A connector for making an electrical connection to an end of a tubular electrically conductive plastic coated shield with an electrically insulating outer jacket on a communication cable, said connector comprising: an electrically conductive screw having a head and a generally pointed helically threaded end; and a generally U-shaped resilient clip having first and second opposed jaws projecting from an interconnecting end wall, said jaws terminating with spaced ends adapted to receive the conductive shield and jacket therebetween with the first jaw adjacent the inner surface of said shield and said end wall adjacent the end of said conductive shield, said end wall having an opening receiving the threaded end of said screw to project from said end wall between the jaws, said clip including means for guiding the screw along the first jaw and said jaws being spaced to resiliently press said screw against said conductive shield when said clip is engaged over said jacketed shield to engage the adjacent edges of the threads with the conductive shield, thereby wiping away the plastic coating on the shield as the screw is rotated between the jaws to provide an electrical connection between the screw and the cOnductive shield, and resiliently retaining said electrical connection after the screw is completely engaged with its head at the end wall.
 2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said clip is conductive, and includes a threaded stud projecting from the second jaw.
 3. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said second jaw has a plurality of spaced slits formed along each edge and extending inwardly from said edges away from the end wall to form triangular barbs, with each of the barbs being curved to protrude from the second jaw with the point thereof directed generally toward said first jaw and said end wall.
 4. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said first jaw comprises a longitudinally extending channel with a depth less than the major diameter of said screw thread, said channel being positioned with its open side adjacent the second jaw and its end adjacent the end wall aligned with the opening to provide said means for guiding the screw along the first jaw.
 5. A connector according to claim 4, wherein said channel has a central wall and two side walls attached to and projecting from the central wall toward said second jaw, the height of the side walls from the central wall being tapered from the ends of the side walls adjacent the end wall toward the opposite end of the first jaw.
 6. A connector according to claim 5, wherein the ends of said side walls adjacent the end wall extend from said central wall about to the center of said opening.
 7. A generally U-shaped resilient clip adapted for engagement around an end of a tubular electrically conductive plastic coated shield with an electrically insulating outer jacket on a communication cable, and for receiving a screw having a head and a threaded end to make an electrical connection between the screw and the conductive shield, said clip having first and second longitudinal opposed jaws projecting from an interconnecting end wall having an opening therethrough adapted to receive the screw; the first jaw comprising a central wall and two side walls attached to and projecting from the central wall toward said second jaw, the height of the side walls from the central wall being tapered from their ends adjacent the end wall toward the opposite end of the first jaw to form a wedge adapted to be pressed under the end of a conductive shield, and said central and side walls forming a longitudinally extending channel with a depth less than the major diameter of the screw thread positioned with its open side adjacent the second jaw and its end adjacent the end wall aligned with the opening to guide a said screw inserted through the opening along the first jaw, and the jaws being spaced to resiliently press a said screw inserted through the opening into the channel against a said conductive shield over which the clip is engaged thereby causing the edges of the threads adjacent the conductive shield to wipe away the plastic coating and engage the shield to make electrical contact therewith as the screw is rotated between the jaws, and causing the electrical contact to be resiliently maintained after the screw is completely engaged with its head at the end wall.
 8. A clip according to claim 7, wherein the ends of said side walls adjacent the end wall extend from said central wall about to the center of said opening.
 9. A clip according to claim 7, wherein said clip is conductive and includes a threaded stud projecting from the second jaw.
 10. A clip according to claim 7, wherein said second jaw has a plurality of spaced slits formed along each edge and extending inwardly from said edges away from the end wall to form triangular barbs, with each of the barbs being curved to protrude from the second jaw with the point thereof directed generally toward said first jaw and said end wall.
 11. A method for making an electrical connection to an end of a tubular electrically conductive plastic coated shield with an electrically insulating outer jacket on a communication cable, including the steps of: providing a screw with a threaded end, and a generally U-shaped resilient clip having first and second opposed jaws projecting from an interconnecting end wall, said end wall having an opening therethrough adapted to receive the screw, the first jaw comprising means for guiding the threaded end of the screw along the first jaw upon insertion thereof through the opening and between the jaws; pressing the clip over the end of said shield and said jacket with the first jaw contacting the shield and the second jaw contacting the jacket; inserting the threaded end of the screw through the opening and between the conductive shield and first jaw; and rotating the screw to engage the threads along one side thereof with the conductive shield whereby the moving threads wipe the plastic coating from the conductive shield and engage the shield to provide an electric contact between the screw and the conductive shield, which electrical contact is thereafter maintained by resilient pressure from the jaws.
 12. A method for making an electrical connection to the end of a jacketed electrically conductive plastic coated shield on a communication cable including the steps of: providing an electrically conductive screw-like member having a generally pointed end having axially spaced ridges around its periphery; inserting the ridged end of the screw-like member under the end of the conductive shield; pressing the ridged end of the screw-like member radially against the conductive shield; rotating the screw-like member during said pressing step to cause the adjacent side of the moving ridges to wipe away the plastic coating from the conductive shield and engage the shield to provide electrical contact between the screw-like member and the conductive shield; and resiliently biasing the engaged screw-like member against the shield to maintain the electrical contact therebetween.
 13. A connector for making an electrical connection to an end of a tubular electrically conductive plastic coated shield with an electrically insulating outer jacket on a communication cable, said connector comprising: an electrically conductive screw having a head and a generally pointed helically threaded end; and a clip comprising first and second opposed jaws and means joining said jaws at one end and defining an interconnecting end wall, said jaws terminating with spaced ends adapted to receive the conductive shield and jacket therebetween with the first jaw adjacent the inner surface of said shield and said end wall adjacent the end of said conductive shield, said end wall having an opening receiving the threaded end of said screw to project from said end wall between the jaws, said clip including means for guiding the screw along the first jaw, and said means joining said jaws providing means for supporting said jaws adapted to resiliently press said screw against said shield when said clip is engaged over said jacketed shield to engage the adjacent edges of the threads with the conductive shield, thereby wiping away the plastic coating on the shield as the screw is rotated between the jaws to provide an electrical connection between the screw and the conductive shield, and resiliently retaining said electrical connection after the screw is completely engaged with its head at the end wall.
 14. A connector for making an electrical connection to an end of a tubular electrically conductive plastic coated shield with an electrically insulating outer jacket on a communication cable, said connector comprising: an electrically conductive screw-like member having a head and a generally pointed end having axially spaced ridges around its periphery; and a clip comprising first and second opposed jaws and means joining said jaws at one end and defining an interconnecting end wall, said jaws terminating with spaced ends adapted to receive the conductive shield and jacket therebetween with the firsT jaw adjacent the inner surface of said shield and said end wall adjacent the end of said conductive shield, said end wall having an opening receiving the pointed end of said screw-like member to project from said end wall between the jaws, said clip including means for guiding the screw-like member along the first jaw, and said means joining said jaws providing means for supporting said jaws adapted to resiliently press said screw-like member against said shield when said clip is engaged over said jacketed shield to engage the adjacent edges of said ridges with the conductive shield, thereby wiping away the plastic coating on the shield as the screw-like member is rotated between the jaws to provide an electrical connection between the screw-like member and the conductive shield, and resiliently retaining said electrical connection after the screw-like member is completely engaged with its head at the end wall. 